Michael R. McNulty

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Mike McNulty
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 6, 1989
Preceded by	Samuel S. Stratton
Born	September 16, 1947 (1947-09-16) (age 60) Troy, New York
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Nancy McNulty
Religion	Roman Catholic
Signature

Michael Robert "Mike" McNulty (born September 16, 1947) is a politician from the U.S. state of New York, currently representing New York's 21st congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives. The district is based in Albany and also includes Schenectady and Troy. He is a Democrat, and the current chairman of the House Subcommittee on Social Security.

[edit] Education

McNulty was born in Troy, New York and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

[edit] Political career

McNulty was mayor of Green Island, New York from 1977 to 1982. McNulty was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1982. In 1988, Congressman Samuel S. Stratton announced his withdrawal from the race due to health issues. McNulty was selected to replace him on the ballot and was easily elected in the heavily Democratic district, one of the few reliably Democratic areas in Upstate New York. He has been re-elected eight times without much difficulty. In 2004, he was challenged by Republican Warren Redlich. McNulty faced Redlich again in 2006, and was reelected with 78% of the vote - his widest margin so far. [2]. He also had a primary challenge in 1996 by Lee H. Wasserman, in which he won by a closer margin than he ever had in the general election.

[edit] Committee assignments

• Ways & Means Committee
  • Subcommittee on Social Security (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
• At-Large Whip

[edit] Positions

McNulty has become much more liberal since his earlier days in the House, when he favored more of Newt Gingrich's Contract with America than any other Northeastern Democrat.^{[citation needed]} He remains moderate on social issues (for instance, he is pro-life on abortion), but very liberal on economic issues.^{[citation needed]}

McNulty voted for the War in Iraq, but since flip flopped and has cosponsored Representative John Murtha's resolution for a phased withdrawal from the region^[1].

McNulty is known for being one of the less prolific members of the house; he has said he does not plan to run for any higher offices or leadership posts within the house. Additionally, he is known for being relatively quiet and not saying much on the floor. Congressional Quarterly once jokingly named him Chair of the Obscurity Caucus.^{[citation needed]}

However, he was a vocal critic of President George W. Bush's Social Security reform plan, and, now that he is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Social Security, will probably have his profile boosted should it surface again during the 110th Congress.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Controversies

McNulty presided over a vote to recommit an agricultural appropriations bill on the night of August 2, 2007 that would have prevented illegal immigrants from receiving food stamps. McNulty claimed the vote tied 214-214 with members changing their votes after time had expired, McNulty gaveled down a vote and tallied it 212-216 against the motion, while Republicans argued the House screen tally vote was 215-213 in favor to recommit. Republicans chanted "shame" and later walked out of the House in protest. McNulty and Steny Hoyer apologized on the floor the next morning for prematurely gaveling down the vote. As of May 2008, a bi-partisan investigation panel including Bill Delahunt and Mike Pence is working to determine whether or not the bill must be recommitted.

[edit] Rankings/endorsements

He is consistently endorsed by both the Conservative Party and the Working Families Party, third parties in New York.

McNulty received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's 2005 Scorecard on middle-class issues.

[edit] Retirement

In October of 2007, McNulty announced that he would not seek an 11th term in Congress.^{[2] [3] [4]} Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will be strongly favored in November, as the 21st is considered the most Democratic district in the state outside of the New York City-based districts and Western New York. Both Congressional Quarterly and the Cook Political Report have rated the race for the 21st's open seat as "Safe Democratic."

[edit] See also

• New York's 21st congressional district
• United States House of Representatives
• Green Island, New York
• Samuel S. Stratton
• Conservative Party
• Working Families Party

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Michael McNulty official House site
• Michael R. McNulty at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Michael R. McNulty campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Michael McNulty issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Michael R. McNulty campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Michael R. McNulty (NY) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Mike McNulty profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Michael R. McNulty voting record